Pros:
- Dual tees for about half of the holes, and a few with alternate baskets
- Good range of fairway types from mostly open to tightly wooded
- Rolling hills are used pretty well to give some interesting looks off the tee and at the green
Cons:
- Average hole length is on the short side, some repetitive shots
- Navigation can be tricky in a few places your first time out
- Some fairways play close to roads
Other Thoughts:
The updated design for West Park kept many of the elements from the original layout, though there are some things I definitely miss (I liked old holes 5, 11, and 16 more than just about any of the remaining or new holes). That said, I tried to review this course for what it is and not what it used to be/what it isn't.
The new equipment is the best upgrade from the old course. The concrete tee pads are sufficiently large and grippy and the tee signs are large and colorful and show the distances from each tee, though the signs are only present at one tee per hole where there are dual tees. The red banded Chainstar Pros catch great, and there are two or three holes with alternate pins using older model Chainstars. These alternate pins do not have distances on the tee signs, and some signs show alternate pin locations in the overhead view where I have never seen a basket. There is a new railing to help you navigate the rough stairs down the hill to 2's basket but crossing the creek can still be a little sketchy. This is really the only problematic area for those using a cart.
The dual tee pads are nice in that they usually provide a slightly different look or completely different angle to the basket. The choice of which is the Red and which the White tee is at times confusing, and finding the alternate pad for the hole that doesn't have a tee sign can be a little tricky your first time out. Routing to the next hole can also be difficult in a few spots if you are not familiar with the course.
There is a pretty good mix of open, to moderately wooded, to tightly wooded fairways at West Park. Generally the tightly wooded fairways are short enough to not be overly discouraging to newer players, and I have seen families and other less experienced players having a great time during each of my rounds. There are still enough interesting features to keep more skilled players entertained. Angle control and line shaping is definitely required, but there are a few too many open, parks style holes that begin to feel a little repetitive by the end.
This is a nice park, and the recent improvements definitely gave it a much needed face lift, and helped make West into a true multi-use park. It is a bit less challenging than nearby Channahon, Trinity, Highland, or Dellwood, but fits in well with the area courses. Definitely still worth playing for those living nearby. For those traveling, if you only have the time for two or three rounds, I have trouble recommending West Park over the other courses mentioned above, but hopefully you have time to include the oldest course in the state in your play schedule.